Former Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is yet to take up his next assignment since leaving Old Trafford in January. The Portuguese was once considered one of the brightest young managers in Europe, thanks to his remarkable run with Sporting.
When Amorim took charge at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in 2020, the Portuguese club was in dire straits, with problems on and off the pitch. Sporting needed a saviour and they found one in the former Benfica midfielder.
Amorim brought stability to the club, moulded the team to fit his 3-4-3 system, and soon transformed their fortunes. Under his guidance, the Lions won the league and the Taca da Liga twice, and also lifted the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira once.
His team’s impressive performances prompted United to come calling. The Red Devils parted ways with Erik ten Hag in October 2024 and appointed the Portuguese as his replacement, hoping he could get them back to the top. Unfortunately, Amorim never lived up to expectations at the Theatre of Dreams.
Amorim’s turbulent United reign
Amorim started his Old Trafford tenure with a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town at Portman Road in November 2024, before securing a 3-2 win over Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League. United appeared to be on the right track following a 4-0 win over Everton next, but it proved to be a false dawn.
The Red Devils managed just six more wins in the Premier League in the remainder of the season, ending the campaign in 15th place. They had a better run in Europe and reached the final of the Europa League, only to be defeated 1-0 by Tottenham Hotspur.
Amorim oversaw a much-needed exodus over the summer and strengthened his attack and goalkeeping departments. The team turned over a new leaf on the pitch, but struggled for consistency, prompting United to sack him and appoint Michael Carrick as his temporary replacement.
The Englishman hit the ground running, picking up 11 wins in 16 games, and has since helped the Red Devils secure a third-placed finish in the Premier League. Recent reports suggest Carrick is in line for the permanent job, although it now appears that Amorim could also secure a swift return to football management.
Benfica want Amorim
According to Correio da Manhã, Benfica president Rui Costa has already reached out to Amorim to convince him to take over at the Estadio da Luz. The Portuguese club are looking for a new manager, with recent rumours suggesting that Jose Mourinho is on his way to Real Madrid.
Amorim has been linked with Benfica for a while, and those rumours have picked up of late. The latest report states that the Portuguese manager has already turned down his former club’s initial advances, but Costa is adamant.
The Benfica boss believes Amorim is the right person to bring order to the club and get them back on track. Rui Costa is banking on the ex-United manager’s deep-rooted links with the Lisbon-based club to coax him into taking the job.
The report goes on to add that the Eagles have identified Marco Silva as a possible alternative to Amorim. However, they will make a move for the Fulham manager only if their former academy graduate ends up refusing to take charge at the Estadio da Luz.
Ruben Amorim Managerial Stats
| Team | From | To | Games Played | Games Won | Games Drawn | Games Lost | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casa Pia | 1 July 2018 | 7 January 2019 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 75.00 |
| Braga B | 16 September 2019 | 23 December 2019 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 72.73 |
| Braga | 23 December 2019 | 4 March 2020 | 13 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 76.92 |
| Sporting CP | 4 March 2020 | 10 November 2024 | 231 | 164 | 34 | 33 | 71.00 |
| Manchester United | 11 November 2024 | 5 January 2026 | 63 | 24 | 18 | 21 | 38.10 |
| Career total | — | — | 322 | 209 | 55 | 58 | 64.91 |
Source: Wikipedia.
Final Thoughts
While Amorim’s struggles at United did his reputation no good, he has a big future ahead of him. The Portuguese was not the right fit at the Theatre of Dreams, although it would be hard to deny that he did oversee one of the Red Devils’ most successful summers in recent times.
Feature image Ben Roberts Photo via Getty Images
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